Dear Editor,
HOW pathetic! How dishonest and hypocritical for Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, to be criticising CARICOM for its “silence” on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s ruling as it pertains to the No-Confidence Motion, ref: “Jagdeo bashes CARICOM over ‘silence’’ on CCJ’s ruling on No confidence Motion”, News Source, July 18, 2019.

Here is Jagdeo, once again, whipping up hysteria, as is his constant daily mischief, then, having failed to solicit his expected result, perhaps socially, seeks to inveigle the regional body to raise its voice, as he had tried to do, by virtually ordering the CCJ to politically intervene in Guyana’s internal affairs. We all know the result; an emphatic NO, causing his attorney to express disappointment.

Apart from the fact that there is no breakdown of the social order, as perhaps, Jagdeo would have very much liked to see, he continues to be disappointed by a public that has seen through his deliberate political treachery and dishonest motives. He has, by his own public report, described the discussions as per consensual list, “as going very well’’. Any political science freshman would know that such a status quo must be given a reasonable chance of concluding in a manner that is satisfactory to the engaging parties.
Jagdeo seems to believe that every time he shouts that all must head for the hills. No, No. No!

Of course, CARICOM is watching, no doubt concerned, but certainly pissed off that a country which had become a regional pariah, with all of the degrading facets of a criminal state, feasted upon by a former administration that also practised institutional racism against a segment of its population, is in the process of being reconstructed and gradually restored to both regional and international respectability by a new government, led by an incorruptible Head of State; has been assuming its traditional regional responsibilities; battling against the scourge of corruption and transnational crime that became the masthead of Guyana’s social ills; and preparing Guyana for the biggest economic venture of its entire history, is once again threatened by the region’s most discredited politician who, in concert with political and economic scoundrels, plotted to remove the coalition APNU+AFC government, led by the respected person of President David Arthur Granger.

One is certain that CARICOM, as the premier regional organisation, is well aware that the CCJ did not hand down any coercive orders, as far as having to do with a date for Guyana’s regional and national elections, and the selection of a chairperson for GECOM. It is also aware that such action is not the Court’s preserve, and is best left to Guyana’s principal political actors. The government resorted to the right of due process in the first instance, thus rendering the ‘within three months period for national elections’ not practicable. Even more important is the fact that the Granger Government calls for a voters’ list that is sanitised, which is key to Guyana’s continued credibility as a democratic state.

As a regional organisation, CARICOM is aware what the compromising of such a key element of democracy could mean in terms of the social peace, and the imperative of an uncorrupted Voters’ List as an insurance against such a likelihood. It is not a prospect that, as a regional body, it would wish to relish at this or any other time. This, I believe, would be this organisation’s advice to Jagdeo and his cohorts: Let there be house-to-house registration. Let there be credible elections.

Editor, apart from what one is certain is CARICOM’s concerned watch at the Guyana situation, it is not on the same level as Haiti, as Jagdeo has inferred, warranting a similar CARICOM response of “moving around the world to address problems in other countries”. There have been no street confrontations, killing of protestors and destruction of public property in Guyana, as has been the experience in Haiti.

All will agree that the problem is Jagdeo leading a phalanx of anti-national and vested interest types, greedily salivating on 2020 oil, inclusive of political scoundrels; dangerous opportunists; economic rapists, and dubious types, many of whom are before the courts, and are still being investigated for the worst cases of State pillage anywhere in the modern CARICOM. This, one is sure, is what is of great concern to the latter body. Which regional organisation will countenance a member State, led by such political putridity?
Regards,
Earl Hamilton